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K9s vs Kubernetes: What are the differences?
K9s and Kubernetes are both tools used in the management of containerized applications, but they have key differences that set them apart.
Compatibility and Scope: K9s is a graphical user interface (GUI) tool designed specifically for Kubernetes, allowing users to interact with their clusters through an intuitive visual interface. On the other hand, Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that enables the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
Functionality: K9s provides various features to optimize the Kubernetes experience, including real-time monitoring, logs, pod management, resource utilization analysis, and terminal-like interactivity. In contrast, Kubernetes offers a comprehensive set of tools and APIs for cluster management, workload deployment, and scaling operations, enabling users to manage and coordinate containerized applications at scale.
User Interface: K9s offers a graphical user interface with an intuitive layout and visual representation of Kubernetes resources, making it easier for users to navigate and interact with their clusters. Kubernetes, on the other hand, primarily utilizes a command-line interface (CLI) with text-based commands for cluster management, allowing for more flexibility and automation through scripts and configuration files.
Ease of Use: K9s simplifies the management of Kubernetes by providing a more user-friendly and accessible interface, reducing the learning curve and making it easier for beginners to interact with their clusters. Kubernetes, although more complex, offers greater control and flexibility for advanced users, allowing them to carry out highly customized operations and configurations.
Integration and Extensibility: K9s supports integration with various Kubernetes plugins, allowing users to extend its functionality and customize their experience according to their specific needs. Kubernetes, being a highly extensible platform itself, provides an extensive ecosystem of plugins, extensions, and integrations, enabling users to enhance and extend its capabilities to fit their requirements.
Deployment and Scalability: K9s primarily focuses on providing a user-friendly interface for managing existing Kubernetes clusters. It does not directly deal with the deployment or scaling of clusters. On the other hand, Kubernetes provides a complete solution for managing the deployment, scaling, and orchestration of containerized applications across clusters, allowing for horizontal scalability and automated scaling based on resource utilization.
In summary, K9s is a user-friendly GUI tool that enhances the Kubernetes experience by providing visual representation and simplified management, while Kubernetes is a comprehensive platform for container orchestration, offering a wide range of tools and APIs for managing containerized applications at scale.
Our whole DevOps stack consists of the following tools:
- GitHub (incl. GitHub Pages/Markdown for Documentation, GettingStarted and HowTo's) for collaborative review and code management tool
- Respectively Git as revision control system
- SourceTree as Git GUI
- Visual Studio Code as IDE
- CircleCI for continuous integration (automatize development process)
- Prettier / TSLint / ESLint as code linter
- SonarQube as quality gate
- Docker as container management (incl. Docker Compose for multi-container application management)
- VirtualBox for operating system simulation tests
- Kubernetes as cluster management for docker containers
- Heroku for deploying in test environments
- nginx as web server (preferably used as facade server in production environment)
- SSLMate (using OpenSSL) for certificate management
- Amazon EC2 (incl. Amazon S3) for deploying in stage (production-like) and production environments
- PostgreSQL as preferred database system
- Redis as preferred in-memory database/store (great for caching)
The main reason we have chosen Kubernetes over Docker Swarm is related to the following artifacts:
- Key features: Easy and flexible installation, Clear dashboard, Great scaling operations, Monitoring is an integral part, Great load balancing concepts, Monitors the condition and ensures compensation in the event of failure.
- Applications: An application can be deployed using a combination of pods, deployments, and services (or micro-services).
- Functionality: Kubernetes as a complex installation and setup process, but it not as limited as Docker Swarm.
- Monitoring: It supports multiple versions of logging and monitoring when the services are deployed within the cluster (Elasticsearch/Kibana (ELK), Heapster/Grafana, Sysdig cloud integration).
- Scalability: All-in-one framework for distributed systems.
- Other Benefits: Kubernetes is backed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), huge community among container orchestration tools, it is an open source and modular tool that works with any OS.
Pros of K9s
- Nice UI and fast way to manage my kubernetes clusters2
Pros of Kubernetes
- Leading docker container management solution164
- Simple and powerful128
- Open source106
- Backed by google76
- The right abstractions58
- Scale services25
- Replication controller20
- Permission managment11
- Supports autoscaling9
- Cheap8
- Simple8
- Self-healing6
- No cloud platform lock-in5
- Promotes modern/good infrascture practice5
- Open, powerful, stable5
- Reliable5
- Scalable4
- Quick cloud setup4
- Cloud Agnostic3
- Captain of Container Ship3
- A self healing environment with rich metadata3
- Runs on azure3
- Backed by Red Hat3
- Custom and extensibility3
- Sfg2
- Gke2
- Everything of CaaS2
- Golang2
- Easy setup2
- Expandable2
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Cons of K9s
Cons of Kubernetes
- Steep learning curve16
- Poor workflow for development15
- Orchestrates only infrastructure8
- High resource requirements for on-prem clusters4
- Too heavy for simple systems2
- Additional vendor lock-in (Docker)1
- More moving parts to secure1
- Additional Technology Overhead1
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What is K9s?
What is Kubernetes?
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